Liquid discharge system including liquid product pump having vibration sensor

ABSTRACT

A liquid discharge system includes a liquid product pump having a sensor for monitoring vibrations passing through an outer casing of the liquid product pump to detect an occurrence of cavitation within the liquid product pump. A system and method for controlling the operation of a liquid product pump in an engine-driven hydraulic discharge system. The liquid product pump has a vibration sensor operable to detect cavitation within the liquid product pump and for providing an electrical vibration signal to a speed control module. The speed control module is operable to process the vibration signal and to produce an electrical speed control signal that is provided to an electronic actuator. The electronic actuator is operable to actuate a motor control lever of a variable speed hydraulic motor to adjust the operating speed of the liquid product pump.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to liquid discharge systems, andmore particularly, to a liquid discharge system including a liquidproduct pump having a vibration sensor. The invention further relates toa system and method for controlling the operation of a liquid productpump in an engine-driven hydraulic discharge system. In an exemplaryembodiment, the invention is a liquid discharge system including avibration sensor for detecting cavitation within a liquid product pump,and a method for controlling the operating speed of the liquid productpump to avoid the potentially damaging effects of cavitation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A liquid discharge system is employed on a tank truck to off-load aliquid product from a tank trailer to a storage tank. The liquiddischarge system typically includes a fluid pump, referred to herein asa liquid product pump, to transfer the liquid product from the tanktrailer through a suction conduit and to the storage tank through adischarge conduit. The liquid product pump receives mechanical powerfrom a variable speed hydraulic motor that in turn receives fluidpressure from a hydraulic pump powered by a constant speed powertake-off (PTO) of the tank truck. The optimum operating speed of theliquid product pump for efficient off-loading of liquid product isdetermined primarily by the maximum speed at which the pump can operatebefore cavitation begins.

Cavitation can occur as a result of changes in operating temperature,but more commonly occurs as a result of changes in vacuum pressure atthe inlet side of the liquid product pump. Excessive vacuum at the inletside of the liquid product pump forms vapor bubbles in the liquidproduct that implode (collapse violently) when they reach the dischargeside of the liquid product pump. The violent implosion of vapor bubblesreleases heat energy that adds to the system heat and produces acousticenergy forces that cause pitting in the metal surfaces of the liquidproduct pump. Over time, cavitation will damage wear plates, gears andimpeller vanes in addition to the outer casing of the liquid productpump. Eventually, if not avoided, cavitation will destroy the operationof the liquid product pump by causing erosion and/or seal failure.

Vacuum pressure at the inlet side of the liquid product pump isinfluenced by a number of factors, including the operating temperature,the ambient pressure, the density of the liquid product and theoperating speed of the liquid product pump. The engine speed of the tanktruck, and thus the power delivered by the power take-off (PTO) to thehydraulic pump, is constant. As a result, the liquid product pumpoperates at predetermined speed regardless of the density of the liquidproduct. The operator of a liquid discharge system can easily causecavitation to occur within the liquid product pump by allowing the pumpto operate in excess of the optimum operating speed for efficientoff-loading. An untrained or inexperienced operator may not recognize anoccurrence of cavitation. Even an experienced operator may not detect anoccurrence of cavitation due to the noise in the ambient environmentfrom the engine and power take-off (PTO) of the tank truck. Aspreviously mentioned, repeated occurrences of cavitation over time willeventually destroy the operation of the liquid product pump by causingerosion and/or seal failure. Off-loading liquid product at the optimumoperating speed of the liquid product pump is cost efficient.Conversely, downtime for repair or replacement of a liquid product pumpin a liquid discharge system due to failure of the liquid product pumpas a result of the damaging effects of cavitation is costly andinefficient.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,356 issued Jul. 26, 1994, to Gülich discloses adevice and process for determining the erosion rate caused by cavitationin a liquid product pump by detecting the vibration in the pump casing.A noise measuring device secured to an outer wall of the pump casing orinserted a predetermined depth into the outer wall detects thevibrations of the outer wall to produce a casing vibration signal. Themaximum local erosion rate is a known function of the fluid-borne noiselevel caused by cavitation. A signal processing unit of a computerprocesses the vibration signal by amplifying, filtering and/ordigitizing the vibration signal and calculates a fluid-borne noiselevel. The computer then calculates a specific erosion rate from anempirical correlation with the fluid-borne noise level. A maximum localerosion rate is then determined from a known relationship between amaterial-dependent material constant and the specific erosion rate. Thecomputer may indicate the accumulated erosion or may provide an alarmwhen a predetermined threshold of the maximum local erosion rate isexceeded.

Gülich further discloses the use of additional measuring devicesincluding an outlet pressure measuring device and a suction (inlet)pressure measuring device that permit the computer to calculate thepresent flow rate of the pump, the operating point of the pump, and areference pressure with a reference velocity of a rotating shaft of thepump. A regulating device controlled by the computer can control theoperating speed of the motor of the pump. The closed control looppermits the flow rate of the pump to be determined independently of theerosion rate. Thus, the working point of the pump can be altered byadjusting the motor speed so that the pump operates to avoid cavitation.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,056 issued Dec. 8, 1998, to Dhindsa et al. disclosesa method for operating a reciprocating pump. The reciprocating pumpincludes a control circuit and a vibration sensor affixed to the body ofthe reciprocating pump and electrically coupled to the control circuit.The vibration sensor provides signals representative of the vibrationlevel of the pump to the control circuit. The control circuit processesthe vibration sensor signals and activates an alarm in the event thatthe vibration level of the pump exceeds a predetermined value. Thecontrol circuit may be programmed to reduce the operating speed of thepump in response to the vibration sensor signals indicating an excessivevibration of the pump, or may shut down the pump until an improperinstallation or a malfunction of the pump is corrected.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,882,960 issued Apr. 19, 2005, to Miller discloses asystem and a method for monitoring and analyzing the performance of areciprocating piston positive displacement pump, commonly referred to asa “power pump.” The system includes a signal processor electricallyconnected to pressure sensors and to various other sensors, including afluid temperature sensor, a power input sensor and a pump vibrationsensor. The signal processor monitors the various sensors and analyzesthe performance of the pump to determine pump efficiencies and operatingparameters. The pump efficiencies and operating parameters may bedisplayed on a visual display directly connected to the signal processoror via an associated network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is embodied by a liquid dischargesystem including a liquid product pump having an outer casing and asensor operably coupled to the outer casing of the liquid product pump.The sensor monitors vibrations passing through the outer casing of theliquid product pump to detect an occurrence of cavitation within theliquid product pump. In one embodiment, the liquid product pump is apositive displacement pump. The positive displacement pump may beselected from the group consisting of a gear pump, a lobe pump and arotary vane pump. In one embodiment, the sensor is selected from thegroup consisting of an acoustic sensor, a knock sensor and anaccelerometer. In an advantageous embodiment, the sensor is a vibrationsensor.

In one embodiment, the sensor is affixed to the exterior of the outercasing of the liquid product pump by a casing bolt that secures portionsof the outer casing together. In another embodiment, the sensor isdisposed at least partially within the outer casing.

In one embodiment, the liquid product pump has an intake connectionconfigured for receiving a suction conduit and an outtake connectionconfigured for receiving a discharge conduit. In an advantageousembodiment, the suction conduit extends between a tank trailer and theintake connection of the liquid product pump on a vacuum side of theliquid product pump and the discharge conduit extends between theouttake connection on a pressure side of the liquid product pump and astorage tank, and the liquid product pump operates to transfer a liquidproduct from the tank trailer to the storage tank.

In another aspect, the present invention is embodied by a system forcontrolling a liquid product pump in an engine-driven hydraulicdischarge system. The system includes a hydraulic pump operably coupledto a power take-off (PTO) of a tank truck, a hydraulic motor operablycoupled to the hydraulic pump to receive a fluid pressure produced bythe hydraulic pump, and a liquid product pump operably coupled to thehydraulic motor to receive mechanical power produced by the hydraulicmotor. The liquid product pump includes a sensor operably coupled to anouter casing of the liquid product pump. The sensor is operable formonitoring vibrations passing through the outer casing to detect anoccurrence of cavitation within the liquid product pump and forproviding an electrical vibration signal corresponding to a level ofcavitation within the liquid product pump. The system further includes aspeed control module in electrical communication with the sensor. Thespeed control module is operable for receiving the vibration signalprovided by the sensor and for producing an electrical speed controlsignal corresponding to the vibration signal. The system furtherincludes an electronic actuator in electrical communication with thespeed control module. The electronic actuator is operable for receivingthe speed control signal and for actuating the hydraulic motor to adjustan operating speed of the liquid product pump.

In one embodiment, the liquid product pump is selected from the groupconsisting of a gear pump, a lobe pump and a rotary vane pump. In oneembodiment, the sensor is selected from the group consisting of anacoustic sensor, a knock sensor, an accelerometer and a vibrationsensor. In one embodiment, the electronic actuator is selected from thegroup consisting of an electrically actuated ball valve and a linearactuator.

In another embodiment, the system further includes a pressure sensordisposed at a discharge side of the liquid product pump. The pressuresensor is operable for providing an electrical pressure signal to thespeed control module corresponding to a flow rate of a liquid productthrough the liquid product pump.

In another aspect, the present invention is embodied by a method forcontrolling a liquid product pump in an engine-driven hydraulicdischarge system. The method includes providing a liquid product pumphaving an outer casing and a sensor operably coupled to the outercasing. The method further includes operating the liquid product pump totransfer a liquid product from a tank trailer to a storage tank. Themethod further includes using the sensor to monitor vibrations throughthe outer casing of the liquid product pump to detect an occurrence ofcavitation within the liquid product pump. The method further includesproducing an electrical vibration signal corresponding to a level ofcavitation detected within the liquid product pump. The method furtherincludes providing the vibration signal to a speed control module toprocess an electrical speed control signal. The method further includesproviding the speed control signal to an electronic actuator operablefor adjusting the operating speed of the liquid product pump.

In one embodiment, the sensor is selected from the group consisting ofan acoustic sensor, a knock sensor, an accelerometer and a vibrationsensor. In one embodiment, the liquid product pump is a positivedisplacement pump selected from the group consisting of a gear pump, alobe pump and a rotary vane pump.

In another embodiment, the method further includes using the electronicactuator to actuate a motor control lever of a variable speed hydraulicmotor to adjust the operating speed of the liquid product pump. In yetanother embodiment, the electronic actuator is selected from the groupconsisting of an electrically actuated ball valve and a linear actuator.

Additional aspects, objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be made apparent, or will be readily understood andappreciated by those skilled in the relevant art, as exemplaryembodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing figuresare described in greater detail hereinafter. It is intended that allsuch aspects, objects, features and advantages of the inventionenvisioned by this disclosure of exemplary embodiments be encompassed bythe appended claims given their broadest reasonable interpretationconsistent with this disclosure from the viewpoint of one of ordinaryskill in the art. Consequently, the various terms used in thisdisclosure should be construed according to their ordinary and customarymeaning to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of thisinvention. The aspects, objects, features and advantages of theinvention, as well as others not expressly disclosed, may beaccomplished by one or more of the exemplary embodiments describedherein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. However, itshould be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments and drawing figuresare merely illustrative of the invention and its various forms, and thatmany modifications, changes, revisions and substitutions may be made toany of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the generalconcepts of the invention when broadly interpreted and properlyconstrued.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned aspects, objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention, as well as the exemplary embodiments of theinvention, will be more fully understood and appreciated when consideredin conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, in which likereference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout theseveral views.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing a liquid discharge systemincluding a liquid product pump having a vibration sensor according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left-hand side elevation view of the liquid discharge systemof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the liquid discharge system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the liquid discharge system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the liquid discharge system of FIG.1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of a liquidproduct pump according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a system for controlling theoperation of a liquid product pump in an engine-driven hydraulicdischarge system according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling theoperation of the liquid product pump in the engine-driven hydraulicdischarge system of FIG. 7 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of aliquid discharge system including a liquid product pump having avibration sensor for detecting an occurrence of cavitation within theliquid product pump. A system and method for controlling the operationof a liquid product pump in an engine-driven hydraulic discharge systemis shown and described in further exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention. A liquid discharge system is utilized to discharge or“off-load” a liquid product transported by a tank truck from a tanktrailer into a storage tank. The liquid discharge system typicallyincludes a liquid product pump for transferring the liquid product fromthe tank trailer to the storage tank. The liquid product pump, alsoreferred to herein as a “fluid pump,” “liquid pump” or “product pump,”transfers the liquid product by creating a pressure differential betweenan inlet line, also referred to herein as a “suction” line, and anoutlet line, also referred to herein as a “discharge” line. The liquidproduct pump may be powered by a constant speed power take-off (PTO) ofan engine-driven hydraulic discharge system mounted on the tank truck.

Embodiments of the present invention are described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing figures.Exemplary embodiments show and describe a liquid discharge systemincluding a liquid product pump having a vibration sensor for detectingan occurrence of cavitation within the liquid product pump. Otherexemplary embodiments show and describe a system and method forcontrolling the operation, and more particularly the operating speed, ofa liquid product pump in an engine-driven hydraulic discharge system.However, it is not intended for the present invention to be limited inany manner by the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein.Instead, it is expected that the present invention will be given thebroadest reasonable interpretation and construction consistent with thedisclosure as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.Furthermore, unless another specific interpretation or construction isexpressly provided, the exemplary embodiments illustrated herein and thevarious terms used herein should be given their ordinary and customarymeanings as would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the artat the time of the invention.

The present invention is broadly embodied by a liquid discharge system,indicated generally by reference character 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-5. Byway of example and not limitation, the liquid discharge system 10 may bea hydraulically-driven liquid discharge system for off-loading liquidchemicals of the type available from Paragon Tank Truck Equipment, LLCof Cartersville, Ga., USA, and commercially known as the HydraCHEM®liquid chemical off-loading system. The HydraCHEM® system 10 compilesand assembles hydraulic and pneumatic discharge equipment within acommon enclosure 12 that is configured to be mounted onto a tank truck(not shown), for example onto a frame rail of the tank truck.

The liquid discharge system 10 off-loads liquid product from a tanktrailer using either a hydraulic pump, referred to herein as a liquidproduct pump 14, or a pneumatic air compressor 16. Liquid product pump14 may be any type of centrifugal or positive displacement pump suitablefor off-loading a liquid product from a tank trailer to a storage tankusing the liquid discharge system 10 of the tank truck. By way ofexample and not limitation, the liquid product pump 14 is a rotary,reciprocating or linear positive displacement pump. In a particularlyadvantageous embodiment, the liquid product pump 14 is a positivedisplacement rotary pump selected from the group consisting of a gearpump, a lobe pump and a rotary vane pump. Preferably, the liquiddischarge system 10 is powered by an external hydraulic pump operativelycoupled to a conventional power take-off (PTO) of the tank truck.However, the present invention is not intended to be limited in anymanner to a particular source of power for operating the liquid productpump 14 of the liquid discharge system 10. Conversely, it is envisionedthat the liquid product pump 14 may be powered by any other suitablesource of power, including by way of example and not limitation, by anelectric motor and hydraulic pump, or alternatively, an auxiliarygasoline or diesel motor and hydraulic pump.

Regardless, hydraulic oil is pumped by the external hydraulic pumpthrough a high pressure fluid outtake line to a hydraulic fluid intakeconnection 18 provided on the liquid discharge system 10. The intakeconnection 18 is operatively coupled to a selection and/or directionvalve 20 disposed within the enclosure 12 so that the selection and/ordirection valve 20 is in fluid communication with the external hydraulicpump. In turn, the selection and/or direction valve 20 is in fluidcommunication with a hydraulic motor 22 (FIGS. 2-4) disposed within theenclosure 12 that drives the liquid product pump 14. A hydraulic oilcooler 24 disposed within the enclosure 12 is in fluid communicationwith a hydraulic oil tank 26 likewise disposed within the enclosure 12.The hydraulic oil tank 26 is in fluid communication with the externalhydraulic pump through an outtake connection that is preferably locatedon the underside of the hydraulic oil tank 26.

Another hydraulic motor 28 (FIGS. 2-4) disposed within the enclosure 12for driving the air compressor 16 is operatively coupled to theselection and/or direction valve 20, for example through a “tee” valve(not shown). The hydraulic motor 22 that drives the liquid product pump14 is likewise operatively coupled to the selection and/or directionvalve 20 through the same “tee” valve. Both the hydraulic motor 22 thatdrives the liquid product pump 14 and the hydraulic motor 28 that drivesthe air compressor 16 are provided with hydraulic oil return (outtake)lines so that the hydraulic motors 22, 28 are in fluid communicationwith the hydraulic oil cooler 24.

The liquid product pump 14 has a liquid intake connection 30, such as aconventional liquid coupling, that is configured to receive a free endof a first liquid conduit (not shown) extending between a liquiddischarge connection provided on the tank trailer and a vacuum side ofthe liquid product pump 14. The liquid product pump 14 further has aliquid outtake connection 32, such as a conventional liquid coupling,that is configured to receive a free end of a second liquid conduit (notshown) extending between a pressure side of the liquid product pump 14and a liquid intake connection provided on a storage tank. Thus, theliquid product pump 14 operates to off-load the liquid product from thetank trailer by suctioning the liquid product through the first liquidconduit and discharging the liquid product into the storage tank throughthe second liquid conduit. Similarly, the air compressor 16 has apneumatic outtake connection 34 that is configured to receive a free endof a pneumatic line (not shown) extending between the air compressor 16and a pneumatic intake connection provided on the tank trailer. Amovable lever 36 provided on the outside of the enclosure 12 of theliquid discharge system 10 operates to open a valve (not shown) todeliver compressed air through the pneumatic line to the tank trailer,and to close the valve to prevent compressed air from being delivered tothe tank trailer.

As shown herein, the selection and/or direction valve 20 is providedwith an actuator handle 21 that extends outwardly from the enclosure 12for permitting an operator to select the operation of the liquiddischarge system 10 between the liquid product pump 14 and the aircompressor 16. By way of example and not limitation, the operator mayselect the liquid product pump 14 of the liquid discharge system 10 tooff-load liquids that will not cause damage to the liquid product pump14. Conversely, the operator may select the air compressor 16 of theliquid discharge system 10 to off-load liquids that could potentiallycause damage to the liquid product pump 14. In addition, the actuatorhandle 21 of the selection and/or direction valve 20 may be configuredto allow the operator to manually adjust the operating speed of theliquid product pump 14, for example to off-load a liquid that issensitive to a shear force, and/or to select the flow direction of abi-directional liquid product pump 14.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a liquid product pump 14according to the present invention. As shown herein, the liquid productpump 14 of the liquid discharge system 10 is a positive displacementrotary gear pump having a sensor 40 for detecting the occurrence ofcavitation within the liquid product pump 14. The sensor 40 may be anytype of mechanical or electrical sensor suitable for detecting a levelof cavitation within the liquid product pump 14 and for converting ameasurement of the level of cavitation to a corresponding electricalvibration signal. By way of example and not limitation, the sensor 40may be an acoustic sensor, a “knock” sensor or an accelerometer. In aparticularly advantageous embodiment, the sensor 40 is a vibrationsensor that is operatively coupled to the liquid product pump 14.

The vibration sensor 40 may be provided at any suitable location on theliquid product pump 14. Preferably, however, the vibration sensor 40 isdisposed on an outer casing 42 of the liquid product pump 14, oralternatively, is only partially disposed within the outer casing 42. Inthis manner, sensor 40 will not be subjected to damage or malfunction asa result of exposure to the flow of the liquid product through theliquid product pump 14, or to the cavitation forces that may occurwithin the liquid product pump 14. In a particularly advantageousembodiment, the sensor 40 is installed onto the exterior of the outercasing 42 of the liquid product pump 14 through a casing bolt 41 thatsecures separable portions of the outer casing 42 together. Regardless,the sensor 40 monitors vibrations through the outer casing 42 of theliquid product pump 14 to detect cavitation that occurs within theliquid product pump 14. In the event the vibrations indicate anoccurrence of excessive cavitation, an operator can manually adjust theoperating speed of the liquid product pump 14 and/or other operatingparameters of the liquid discharge system 10 to eliminate or reduce thepotentially damaging effects of the cavitation.

An exemplary embodiment of a system 50 for controlling the operation ofa liquid product pump in an engine-driven hydraulic discharge system isshown in FIG. 7. The system 50 comprises a hydraulic pump 52 that isdriven by a constant speed power take-off (PTO) of a tank truck. Thehydraulic pump 52 is in fluid communication with a hydraulic oilreservoir 54 via a hydraulic oil supply line 53 to supply a hydraulicfluid pressure to a variable speed hydraulic motor 56. The hydraulicmotor 56 in turn is in fluid communication with the hydraulic oilreservoir via a hydraulic oil return line 55. The hydraulic motor 56provides mechanical power to operate a liquid product pump 58, alsoreferred to herein as a “liquid pump,” “fluid pump” or “product pump.”In an advantageous embodiment, the liquid product pump 58 is a positivedisplacement rotary pump, such as a gear pump, a lobe pump or a rotaryvane pump, and the hydraulic motor 56 provides mechanical power to theliquid product pump 58 via a rotating shaft. The liquid product pump 58has an intake connection for receiving a liquid product inlet conduit57, commonly referred to as a “suction” conduit, extending between thetank trailer and a vacuum side of the liquid product pump 58. The liquidproduct pump 58 further has an outtake connection for receiving a liquidproduct outlet conduit 59, commonly referred to as a “discharge”conduit, at a pressure side of the liquid product pump 58. The liquidproduct pump 58 operates in a well-known manner to transfer liquidproduct from a tank trailer of the tank truck through the suctionconduit 57 to a storage tank through the discharge conduit 59.

The liquid product pump 58 further has a sensor 60 for detecting anoccurrence of cavitation within the liquid product pump 58. The sensor60 monitors acoustic noise in the form of vibrations through the outercasing of the liquid product pump 58 that indicate an occurrence ofcavitation within the liquid product pump 58. Preferably, the sensor 60is a vibration sensor selected from the group consisting of an acousticsensor, a “knock” sensor, and an accelerometer. The sensor 60 producesan electrical vibration signal 61 corresponding to a measurement of thevibrations through the outer casing of the liquid product pump 58, andconsequently, the level of cavitation detected within the liquid productpump 58. Sensor 60 is operatively coupled to a speed control module 62and provides the vibration signal 61 corresponding to the measurement ofthe vibrations to the speed control module 62. The speed control module62 in turn processes a speed control signal 63 in response to theoccurrence of cavitation detected within the liquid product pump 58.Speed control module 62 provides the speed control signal 63 to anelectronic actuator 64 that is operatively coupled to the speed controlmodule 62. The electronic actuator 64 in turn is operatively coupled tothe variable speed hydraulic motor 56. The electronic actuator 64operates to actuate a motor control lever of the variable speedhydraulic motor 56 to adjust the operation, and more specifically, theoperating speed of the liquid product pump 58. Electronic actuator 64may be any type of actuator suitable for automatically repositioning themotor control lever of the variable speed hydraulic motor 56. By way ofexample and not limitation, the electronic actuator 64 may be anelectrically actuated ball valve, a linear actuator or the like.

The system 50 for controlling the operation of the liquid product pump58 in the engine-driven hydraulic discharge system may further comprisea pressure sensor 66 disposed at the discharge side of the liquidproduct pump 58. For example, the pressure sensor 66 may be locatedwithin the discharge conduit 59 adjacent to the outer casing of theliquid product pump 58 at the outlet of the liquid product pump 58, asdepicted in FIG. 7. Regardless, pressure sensor 66 measures the flowrate of the liquid product entering the discharge conduit 59 andprovides an electrical pressure signal 67 corresponding to the flow rateto the speed control module 62 in substantially the same manner as thevibration sensor 60 provides the vibration signal 61. Ambient air willsometimes enter the suction conduit 57 near the end of a dischargeoperation when only a relatively small quantity of liquid productremains in the tank trailer. This low pressure situation can causevibrations in the liquid product pump 58 that the vibration sensor 60 isunable to differentiate between vibrations resulting from cavitationwithin the liquid product pump 58. Thus, near the end of the dischargeoperation the vibration sensor 60 provides a vibration signal 61 to thespeed control module 62 that starts to slow the operating speed of theliquid product pump 58. The pressure signal 67 from the pressure sensor66 operates to override the vibration signal 61 by causing the speedcontrol module 62 to ignore the vibration signal 61 in a low pressuresituation at the outlet of the liquid product pump 58 entering thedischarge conduit 59. The pressure sensor 66 and the pressure signal 67may also operate to control a high (over) pressure situation, forexample by causing the speed control module 62 to shut down theoperation of the liquid product pump 58.

Regardless, the operation of the liquid product pump 58 can becontrolled in an engine-driven hydraulic discharge system by a method 70according to the invention shown in FIG. 8. In a first step 72, ahydraulic pump 52 driven by a power take-off (PTO) of a tank truck isprovided. In a second step 74, the hydraulic pump 52 supplies a fluidpressure to a variable speed hydraulic motor 56. In a third step 76, thehydraulic motor 56 provides mechanical power to a liquid product pump 58having a vibration sensor 60. In a fourth step 78, the vibration sensor60 measures vibrations through an outer casing of the liquid productpump 58 to detect cavitation within the liquid product pump 58, andproduces an electrical vibration signal 61 corresponding to the level ofcavitation detected within the liquid product pump 58. The vibrationsignal 61 is provided to a speed control module 62 in a fifth step 80 toprocess an electrical speed control signal 63. In a sixth step 82, thespeed control signal 63 is provided to an electronic actuator 64 thatactuates a motor control lever of the hydraulic motor 56 to adjust theoperating speed of the liquid product pump 58. As discussed above, apressure signal 67 produced by the optional pressure sensor 66 may alsobe provided to the speed control module 62 to cause the vibration signal61 to be ignored in a low pressure situation, for example if ambient airenters the suction conduit 57 near the end of a discharge operation whenonly a relatively small quantity of liquid product remains in the tanktrailer.

The liquid discharge system 10 comprising a liquid product pump 14having a vibration sensor 40 shown and described herein operates toautomatically adjust the operating speed of the liquid product pump 14.The system 50 and method 70 for controlling the operating speed of aliquid product pump 58 having a vibration sensor 60 in an engine-drivenhydraulic discharge system similarly operates to automatically adjustthe operating speed of the liquid product pump 58. Controlling theoperating speed of the liquid product pump 14, 58 serves to avoid anoccurrence of cavitation that can potentially damage the liquid productpump and/or the liquid product being transferred from the tank trailerto the storage tank. Automatically adjusting the operating speed of theliquid product pump 14, 58 removes the responsibility of monitoring thedischarge operation for cavitation within the liquid product pump 14, 58from an undertrained and/or inexperienced operator that may notrecognize an occurrence of cavitation, or that may be unable to discernan occurrence of cavitation given the noise level in the ambientenvironment from the engine and power take-off (PTO) of the tank truck.

Regardless of the foregoing detailed description of exemplaryembodiments of the invention, the optimum configuration of the articleof manufacture, apparatus, device or system, and the manner of use,operation and steps of the associated methods, as well as reasonableequivalents thereof, are deemed to be readily apparent and understood bythose skilled in the art. Accordingly, equivalent relationships to thoseshown in the accompanying drawing figures and described in the writtendescription are intended to be encompassed by the present inventiongiven the broadest reasonable interpretation and construction of theappended claims, the foregoing written description and the drawingfigures being considered as merely illustrative of the general conceptsand principles of the invention. Furthermore, as numerous modificationsand changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, theinvention is not intended to be limited to the specific configuration,construction, materials, manner of use and operation of the exemplaryembodiments shown and described herein. Instead, all reasonablypredictable and suitable equivalents and obvious modifications to theinvention should be construed as falling within the scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims given their broadestreasonable interpretation and construction to one of ordinary skill inthe art within the context of the foregoing written description andaccompanying drawing figures.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A liquid discharge system, comprising: aliquid product pump having an outer casing; and a sensor operablycoupled to the outer casing of the liquid product pump; wherein thesensor monitors vibrations passing through the outer casing of theliquid product pump to detect an occurrence of cavitation within theliquid product pump.
 2. The liquid discharge system according to claim1, wherein the liquid product pump is a positive displacement pump. 3.The liquid discharge system according to claim 2, wherein the positivedisplacement pump is selected from the group consisting of a gear pump,a lobe pump and a rotary vane pump.
 4. The liquid discharge systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the sensor is selected from the groupconsisting of an acoustic sensor, a knock sensor and an accelerometer.5. The liquid discharge system according to claim 1, wherein the sensoris a vibration sensor.
 6. The liquid discharge system according to claim1, wherein the sensor is affixed to the outer casing of the liquidproduct pump by a casing bolt that secures portions of the outer casingtogether.
 7. The liquid discharge system according to claim 6, whereinthe sensor is affixed to an exterior of the outer casing by the casingbolt.
 8. The liquid discharge system according to claim 1, wherein thesensor is disposed at least partially within the outer casing.
 9. Theliquid discharge system according to claim 1, wherein the liquid productpump has an intake connection configured for receiving a suction conduitand an outtake connection configured for receiving a discharge conduit.10. The liquid discharge system according to claim 9, wherein thesuction conduit extends between a tank trailer and the intake connectionof the liquid product pump on a vacuum side of the liquid product pumpand the discharge conduit extends between the outtake connection on apressure side of the liquid product pump and a storage tank, and whereinthe liquid product pump operates to transfer a liquid product from thetank trailer to the storage tank.
 11. A system for controlling a liquidproduct pump in an engine-driven hydraulic discharge system, comprising:a hydraulic pump operably coupled to a power take-off (PTO) of a tanktruck; a hydraulic motor operably coupled to the hydraulic pump toreceive a fluid pressure produced by the hydraulic pump; a liquidproduct pump operably coupled to the hydraulic motor to receivemechanical power produced by the hydraulic motor; a sensor operablycoupled to an outer casing of the liquid product pump, the sensoroperable for monitoring vibrations passing through the outer casing todetect an occurrence of cavitation within the liquid product pump andfor providing an electrical vibration signal corresponding to a level ofcavitation within the liquid product pump; a speed control module inelectrical communication with the sensor operable for receiving thevibration signal provided by the sensor and for producing an electricalspeed control signal corresponding to the vibration signal; and anelectronic actuator in electrical communication with the speed controlmodule operable for receiving the speed control signal and for actuatingthe hydraulic motor to adjust an operating speed of the liquid productpump.
 12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the liquid productpump is selected from the group consisting of a gear pump, a lobe pumpand a rotary vane pump.
 13. The system according to claim 11, whereinthe sensor is selected from the group consisting of an acoustic sensor,a knock sensor, an accelerometer and a vibration sensor.
 14. The systemaccording to claim 11, wherein the electronic actuator is selected fromthe group consisting of an electrically actuated ball valve and a linearactuator.
 15. The system according to claim 11, further comprising apressure sensor disposed at a discharge side of the liquid product pumpoperable for providing an electrical pressure signal to the speedcontrol module corresponding to a flow rate of a liquid product throughthe liquid product pump.
 16. A method for controlling a liquid productpump in an engine-driven hydraulic discharge system, comprising:providing a liquid product pump having an outer casing and a sensoroperably coupled to the outer casing; operating the liquid product pumpto transfer a liquid product from a tank trailer to a storage tank;using the sensor to monitor vibrations through the outer casing of theliquid product pump to detect an occurrence of cavitation within theliquid product pump; producing an electrical vibration signalcorresponding to a level of cavitation detected within the liquidproduct pump; providing the vibration signal to a speed control moduleto process an electrical speed control signal; and providing the speedcontrol signal to an electronic actuator operable for adjusting theoperating speed of the liquid product pump.
 17. The method according toclaim 16, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of anacoustic sensor, a knock sensor, an accelerometer and a vibrationsensor.
 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the liquid productpump is a positive displacement pump selected from the group consistingof a gear pump, a lobe pump and a rotary vane pump.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 16, further comprising using the electronic actuatorto actuate a motor control lever of a variable speed hydraulic motor toadjust the operating speed of the liquid product pump.
 20. The methodaccording to claim 19, wherein the electronic actuator is selected fromthe group consisting of an electrically actuated ball valve and a linearactuator.